[Michael]

New York is a prime target for terrorists for a number of reasons. First, it is to many the world center of finance and commerce, and to Islamic fundamentailists, the root of evil because of this. Second, it is the most populous city in the United States and one of the largest in the world, with over 9 million residents and at least that many day employees and visitors, so victim totals are likely to be high. And the world knows New York. It is a significant entity on the world stage and damaging it is sure to be noticed. The terrorists picked on the wrong city, because New York has weathered many disasters and crises before, from fires that leveled blocks to defending itself in wartime to bankruptcy- and still stands strong. Terrorism in New York is nothing new, just go look at the pockmarked wall of the Morgan Bank on Wall Street where an anarchist's bomb of dynamite and shrapnel exploded in the 1920's, killing over 20 people. But the city goes on nonetheless.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

The tendency of certain racial/ ethnic/ religious groups to live together in cities, especially New York, is not due very much to overt racism and societal segregation. Historically, many of these neighborhoods- like Chinatown (Chinese) and the lower East Side (Italian and East European Jewish in different parts) were formed because immigrants liked living among their own kind. This was important in early 20th century New York, because the neighborhoods provided an easier path to assimilation and citizenship, English lessons and job placement services were offered by local groups, and the like. Cultural traditions from the 'old country' could be maintained (Italian festivals, Kosher restaurants, etc) while living in American society in these enclaves, which made the immigrants more comfortable. Also, living in ethnic neighborhoods helped build a group mentality that provided for the advancement of these groups in New York that would have been impossible had they spread out and lived in mixed neighborhoods. Later, Harlem (which before its major development in 1900-1920 or so was farmland!) was promoted as a place where working blacks could comfortably live. This was actually a voluntary free market attempt to remedy the conditions of poor blacks who lived in slums near the site of today's Bryant Park and Times Square. To this day, there are still neighborhoods that are magnets for immigrants from various countries, except today, it is not as much Italians or Jews, it is East Indians, Central Americans, Nigerians, and the like. Some people just enjoy living among others with a common background and that cannot be faulted as long as they are not hostile to outsiders or others. There will always be a bonehead or two from Bensonhurst who will threaten to take an aluminum ball bat to anyone who isn't Italian that dares to set foot in their neighborhood, but for the most part, New York's ethnic cultures co-exist, if not show respect for and interest in each other. Just look at the St. Patrick's Day parade, or how many people go to Chinatown or Little Italy or Arthur Ave to eat. Unfortunately, the bad things get prominently bad press (the Crown Heights violence, Amadou Diallo, Bernie Goetz, etc) and a lot of people forget that despite that handful of tragic incidents, there are millions of people that live and work together in that great city.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

What you have described is a centuries-old comic element that in a way even goes back to the ancient Greek and Roman comedies. In the past 100 years in the United States,we have seen Fred and Barney, Abbott and Costello,Laurel and Hardy and yes, even Beavis and Butt-head, all of which fit this genre. I don't think it's based on anything stereotypical or prejudicial. It's just a comedic formula that makes most people laugh and an easily recogized symbol of comedy.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

I have attempted to post a question/response like this before- that is, that 'African-American' is a poor synonym for 'black' since there are not only people of Negroid (black) descent, but also Caucasians of European and Middle Eastern descent living on the continent of Africa, some for hundreds if not thousands of years. Some of these people end up emigrating to America. This begs the question of whether an Egyptian or Algerian Caucasian, who is of Arab descent, is an African American, or if the white descendant of British colonists who have lived in Zimbabwe or South Africa for over a hundred years is African American. The label 'African American' therefore does not always mean black and is not an accurate ethnic or cultural or racial label since it encompasses such a wide group of people. Yes, the poster above has the right idea, 'African American' is someone who themselves has emigrated from Africa, no matter their background.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

I went to George Washington University 1993-1997 and saw a huge spectrum of clothes worn to class - everything from businesswear (suits and skirts/dresses) to 'business casual' slacks and buttoned shirts and maybe sweaters in the winter, to things that looked like they were picked up off the floor a minute before they were put on, to almost laughable grunge and hip-hop wear. Interestingly, the styles often differed based on the courses. In my upper-level business and political science courses, many students had on a suit or business casual wear. There are a number of reasons for this, but a big one was that a lot of students (including me) had a business or government job or internship and squeezed in class along with it. In contrast, my English classes often had the worst-dressed students (sloppy artistes, maybe?). My first semester of Freshman year I dressed however I wanted to, usually wearing jeans and a sweater or sweatshirt (or shorts in the hot Washington fall). But I eventually realized that part of being serious about school was dressing seriously as well, so I picked up the business casual look for most classes. Not everybody feels this way, and wearing nice clothes does not improve everyone's concentration and seriousness, but that worked for me.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

Although the two may seem to be related - that because you pay an adult price to get into the movies, you should be able to go to an R-rated movie, they are two different issues. One is that of economics and pricing on the part of the theater. Many theaters discount their standard ticket rates for children under 12. That is intended to encourage parents to bring their children with them to the movies - the classic principle that it is better to make some money than nothing at all by leaving kids home. Also, kids tend to eat a lot at the concession stand, which is a goldmine for most theaters. Above age 12, the standard ticket price is often charged, but that does not classify the young customer as an adult. What affects that is an agreement reached by the major studios and theater chains to submit to an industry code set forth by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). In order to reduce government control over movies, a ratings code was developed mutually to indicate the content of movies and guide parents in making choices. (Whether this code works and whether it's appropriate is a different story.) Part of that agreement is that theaters uphold the ratings, including not allowing anyone under 17 into an R-rated movie without an adult. (Yes, kids often kids get in, but in reality that is the rule).

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

If there was a time to buy a firearm it was during the Clinton administration, when Janet Reno used the ATF as her private police force of 'jackbooted thugs', violating our civil rights to privacy and protection from unreasonable government intrusion. I am a libertarian and did not vote for Clinton or Gore. What all of you are writing here is unfounded hysteria fanned by self-promoting demagogues such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. They feed off fear, because without that, they would be unemployed and have no purpose in the public life. As for homosexuals, they just are not important either way to Bush/Cheney. It was not a campaign issue- for or against. No matter what your private behavior is, you still have civil rights as an American citizen. Your behavior, however, has no guarantee of protection, though I don't think you need a gun to practice sodomy in most states. There are much more important issues for President Bush to deal with then chasing down people performing sex acts at home.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

I had to laugh when I read where the poster was from because I know a wild girl from that area, although I don't think she was as bad as two or three partners a week. The whole Catholic thing is repression. In many cases, instead of being raised with the mindset that sexuality is healthy and normal - though something that is special and should be controlled - there is a great mindset of negativity. It is from this that an unhealthy attitude develops that sometimes manifests itself to the other extreme, where excessive sexual behavior results as a kind of backlash. This often happens when young people leave home for the first time (i.e. college). And yes, I can say all this from experience because I grew up a socially moronic Catholic who had no idea how to have a positive male-female relationship when I got to college. I did not become promiscuous, but I know many people who did because of their negative backlash against their upbringing.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

Let me pose this question- is someone who is Caucasian, whose ancestors have lived in Africa for a hundred years, who then moves to America an African-American? This is a serious question, since there are white people of British, Dutch, etc. descent in places like Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is because of this that it seems the label 'African-American' as a synonym for 'black person' is flawed. I understand that they are descendants of colonialism, etc. but that is not the issue of this question. The fact is that Africa has people of may races and ethnicities, from the Middle Eastern Arab people of the north in Egypt, Libya, Morocco, etc to of course descendants of black tribes and European descended Caucasians, some with roots going back several hundred years. So what really is an African American?

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

The 'textbook' duties of a member of Congress are to represent their given district in the Congress of the United States. What this means is a number of things, most importantly remaining in touch with their constituents and voting on and proposing bills (theoretically) based on the needs and desires of the district, and in line with the principles of the U.S. Constitution. Members also serve on a few committees each, which is where bills are drafted and amended.

Now, the above is what you would find in a U.S. Government studies textbook. Having a bachelor's degree in political science and working on Capitol Hill for a semester as an intern (hold the jokes please, it was nothing like that!), I can say otherwise. The U.S. Congress, like many other legislatures, is composed of various factions and coalitions, each with their own interests, which may or may not be in line with the welfare of each district. Members of Congress must not only serve the will of their constituents, but also in many cases support their party in legislation and (although the members do not like to emphasize it) serve special interest groups that lobby them and give them donations. Being a Member of Congress is a very hard job and is often a balancing act among conflicting interests. Much of the position also ends up involving public relations - riding in parades, attending ribbon cuttings and the like. Because of the two-year term in Congress, most members are constantly campaigning, which many Congressional analysts believe is a major detriment to the job because they are focusing on being re-elected rather than passing meaningful legislation. If you really want to know what goes on in Congress, visit the office of your representative in Washington. It is be sure to be eye-opening.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

First, the United States has expansive land with an abundance of natural resources vital to industry such as oil, coal, iron and timber. Second, there is a large amount of farmable land to support the population. Third, most of the United States has access to either a coastal or river port to ship goods worldwide. And the United States has one of the best air, rail and ground transportation networks in the world. Fourth, there is a huge sector of the economy dedicated to financing the above, with New York being a primary financial center. But these things would be irrelevant if not for two things: A large pool of available labor and jobs, and a tradition that encourages enterprise in keeping with the current economic state with minimal institutional interference.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael]

One reason people subordinate themselves to a common goal is explained in John Locke's "Social Contract" theory. Locke, a political philosopher in the 1700s, argued that in a democratic society, citizens must give up the autonomy to do things they cannot physically, financially or institutionally do to a governing body. For example, a citizen, on his own, cannot defend his country from foreign enemies, but he can join the armed forces - a collective group - to do so. Therefore, people may give up some of their autonomy because they realize that without doing so, they cannot accomplish their desired goals.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael, Gender : M, Age : 30, City : Manassas, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : History teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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